by CHRIS LODER
Conservative MP for West Dorset

ON June 29, 2023, polling stations will open from 7am-10pm for residents of Sherborne West.

More than 2,200 households face an important by-election for a new Dorset councillor, following the resignation last month of the absent Liberal Democrat councillor Matthew Hall, who moved to Devon almost a year ago.

Electors were not informed by Matt of his departure, neither were many aware he had even resigned!

I am very pleased to be able to support Rebecca Burns, the local Conservative candidate. She has her own business in the town centre and is committed to Sherborne having lived here all her life.

On Wednesday last week, I led a debate in Parliament to raise the issue of the provision of NHS dentistry in the South-West.

Our region has been experiencing acute difficulties in accessing routine and emergency dental treatment. Access to dental services continues to be a difficulty in the South-West.

This is a particular problem which has persisted for many years and is a consequence of the Covid-19 backlog; the unpopular 2006 dental contract; and the unfair remuneration system.

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As a result of these problems, the number of NHS dentists turning to private practice has increased and has meant that many of our local practices are not accepting new patients or even accepting existing patients’ treatment.

Many constituents have rightly been in touch over the last few months to tell me of their difficulties accessing an NHS dentist, and I was glad to be amplify their concerns with neighbouring MPs to the Health Minister, Neil O’Brien.

One of the reasons behind such a shortage of dentists is the difficulty in maintaining the workforce in rural areas, such as here in West Dorset.

Nationally, there is an uneven distribution of dentistry schools – while there are only currently two in the South-West, six are located in the North.

In my speech, I proposed a new dental school in Dorset to help rectify this issue, and the Minister has agreed to meet me to discuss this.

After months of campaigning in Westminster, on Thursday, it was confirmed that Dorset County Hospital will receive a new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit.

The landmark news was announced as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme, expected to be backed by more than £20 billion of investment in hospital infrastructure. The new Emergency Department will increase total capacity from 64 to 72 beds from 2025, while the new Critical Care Unit will have space for 24 beds.

These substantial improvements to Dorset County Hospital have been announced nearly three years since record investment of £62.5 million was made by the Government, which I lobbied for and helped to secure.